In case you hadn’t noticed, 2020 wasn’t much fun – and 2021 hasn’t gotten off to a much better start. On the other hand, hopefully, what we’re going through is birth pains and much good will come out of this mess. 

I’ve been praying a fair bit and what I’ve been praying is against evil. I think we too often pray for what we want or for what we think God wants, but we are not God and He says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8 – NIV) So I’m praying generically and letting God sort it out. 

Ephesians 6:12 says “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)

And so I’ve been praying against that stuff. That has always helped me to keep my focus off people and on the evil itself. I don’t believe the vast majority of people are fundamentally bad – even ones I strongly disagree with. So, I pray a lot for wisdom and discernment, not only for myself, but for others as well. 

I’m also praying against “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions” (Gal 5:20 – NIV). What I’m praying for is an in-pouring of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of that Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal 5:22,23 – BSB)

I’m also praying that, through this painful birthing process, we will come out a more just, merciful, and humble people (Micah 6:8) – that we will be more compassionate and that we begin to adopt, in this country, an attitude of “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” (Gal 5:14 – AMP)

I’m praying that we birth a nation that is truly “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL” – and that the baby is not stillborn or aborted. That we do not go back to a divided nation full of self-interest, with liberty and justice for some.

I hope others will pray with me.